Chris Benard is serving as an intern with the KC public school district throughout this, his senior, year.  He said:

I’m in the public relations department, so I send out all the press releases and meet with media contacts. I knew about the school supplies’ distribution City Union Mission does, because I had actually been on the receiving end at one time. I wanted to come and be a part of it, so I told my supervisor about it. She got excited and also wanted to come. We’re going to do our own story about it. Kids have a tough enough time in school these days. They don’t need the added burden of not having all the tools they need in order to succeed.

On August 21, 2007 City Union Mission distributed school supplies to 1,576 children, representing 603 families. Each child received a backpack filled with school supplies valued at about $30. The program is part of City Union Mission’s Community Assistance. Dan Doty, Executive Director explained, “By providing these things moms and dads don’t have to choose between paying rent or buying school supplies. We try to do all we can to help prevent homelessness.”

When Chris and his mom went through a difficult time, thankfully City Union Mission was here for them. Chris relates:

The staff was so supportive of my mom and me. They really helped us make it through. And even after we left the shelter, I stayed in close contact going after-school and weekends to their youth program and to the camp in Warsaw, MO in the summers. Terri Megli was my basketball and baseball coach. He was a very encouraging person - interested in what I wanted to do and how well I was progressing in school…a mentor to me. I still like to keep in contact with him, and think of him that way.

Terri Megli said:

Kids need to know that they matter. Our youth department is great at establishing relationships with kids. When I first came to the mission I was in that role. Now I’m the New Life Program Administrator, our long-term recovery program for women and families.

I remember Chris was about 8 when I first met him in January of 2000, a very articulate fun kid. Even after they left the shelter he continued on in the after school program till he was about 12. At that time he was accepted in a really good bi-lingual school, the Foreign Language Academy. He and his mom moved closer to the school. It was really an honor that he was accepted there. In the summer of 2003 he came back to the mission to work as a summer intern.

It was neat to see how his verbal skills had come along. He had really grown and matured. It’s meaningful knowing that we had a part in all this.

To find out more about City Union Mission’s youth program please click here, and scroll down to Vanderberg Youth Center, or call 816-329-1423.

Chris remembers:

When I think of the mission, it reminds me of the growth I experienced while there. There were a lot of good times. It was there that I went through self- discovery, learning about what is truly important in life, like the strong bonds of family. I learned how to trust, and what it means to respect others and myself. My religious understanding was also deepened. I remember how important it was to me to help Terry develop a baptismal ceremony at the summer camp one year.

I’d really like kids who are struggling to know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Anything is possible when you keep your head up. I’m thankful the mission and the staff were there for us.

After graduation Chris plans to attend college, majoring in aerospace engineering and astro-physics.

If you would like to learn more about how you can partner with City Union Mission, please click here.